A new approach and new league could signal a turnaround season for the Moffat County High School volleyball team.

Head coach Sandy Camilletti has tried a new method for getting her players prepared for the season over the summer, and players say they are seeing results.

The different program, which has focused on a slow, concentrated buildup of basic skills, is Camilletti’s attempt to have the important, smaller parts of volleyball become second nature to her players.

“I’m starting out slower and really making sure we’ve got it,” Camilletti said. “Last year we set out to have this whole perfect practice thing, but I’m not sure we followed through on it. So in this drill (at practice), I don’t care if they’re hitting the ball, I just want their feet to be right.

“When they’ve got their footwork, the rest will come.”

It will be tough to tell whether Camilletti’s strategy has worked until the Bulldogs play their first game in Glenwood Springs, but senior Jessica Behrman said she has noticed a difference.

“I feel like we’ve improved a lot since last year,” Behrman said. “Our basic skills have been better and that just makes everything better.”

Another major difference for the volleyball team this year will be the move to Class-3A from 4A.

That means the team will play all new league games against teams it has not seen before. Camilletti said she’s not sure what the competition level will be like this year, but it could depend on the opponents’ club and year-round volleyball presence.

“I don’t know what those other (3A) schools have had,” Camilletti said. “(In our old league) I know Eagle Valley has a good club program and that they don’t have a lot of multi-sport girls. Steamboat was similar where if you weren’t there in the summer, you probably don’t need to show up in the fall.

“That hurt us a bit. It will make a difference if these teams have similar programs in place.”

Coming off a difficult season in 2011, the Bulldogs hope their new approach and new opponents will make for a turnaround year.

It won’t be easy, as in addition to the four graduated seniors missing from the roster this year, senior Makayla Camilletti will be out for the season as well.

Camilletti tore her labrum over the summer and after having surgery, is expected to miss the entire 2012 volleyball season.

Cousin and fellow senior Lisa Camilletti has joined the team this year and will help fill the void.

Camilletti likes the idea of playing against new opponents.

“I think it will probably give us more confidence since the teams we played last year we didn’t do as well,” Lisa Camilletti said. We can go into (the season) thinking something different.”

Nate Waggenspack can be reached at 875-1795 or nwaggenspack@craigdailypress.com. Follow Craig Daily Press sports coverage on Twitter at @CDP_Sports.